Minnesota Statutes 256J.53 – Postsecondary Education as Approved Work Activity
Subdivision 1.Length of program.
(a) In order for a postsecondary education or training program to be an approved work activity as defined in section 256J.49, subdivision 13, clause (6), it must be a program lasting four years or less, and the participant must meet the requirements of subdivisions 2, 3, and 5.
Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 256J.53
- Adult: means an individual 18 years of age or older. See Minnesota Statutes 645.451
- Commissioner: means the commissioner of human services or the commissioner's designated representative. See Minnesota Statutes 256J.08
- Family: includes :
(1) the following individuals who live together: a minor child or a group of minor children related to each other as siblings, half siblings, stepsiblings, or adoptive siblings, together with their natural, adoptive parents, stepparents, or caregiver as defined in subdivision 11; and
(2) a pregnant woman with no other children. See Minnesota Statutes 256J.08
- MFIP: means the assistance program authorized in this chapter. See Minnesota Statutes 256J.08
- Participant: includes any of the following:
(1) a person who is currently receiving cash assistance or the food portion available through MFIP;
(2) a person who withdraws a cash or food assistance payment by electronic transfer or receives and cashes an MFIP assistance check or food coupons and is subsequently determined to be ineligible for assistance for that period of time is a participant, regardless whether that assistance is repaid;
(3) the caregiver relative and the minor child whose needs are included in the assistance payment;
(4) a person in an assistance unit who does not receive a cash and food assistance payment because the case has been suspended from MFIP; and
(5) a person who receives cash payments under family stabilization services under section 256J. See Minnesota Statutes 256J.08
(b) Participants with a high school diploma, commissioner of education-selected high school equivalency certification, or an adult high school diploma must be informed of the opportunity to participate in postsecondary education or training while in the Minnesota family investment program.
Subd. 2.Postsecondary education or training.
(a) Participants who are interested in participating in postsecondary education or training as part of their employment plan must discuss their education plans with their job counselor. Job counselors will work with participants to evaluate the options by:
(1) advising whether there are suitable employment opportunities that require the specific education or training in the area in which the participant resides or is willing to reside;
(2) assisting the participant in exploring whether the participant can meet the requirements for admission into the program; and
(3) discussing the participant’s strengths and challenges based on the participant’s MFIP assessment, previous education, training, and work history.
(b) The requirements of this subdivision do not apply to participants who are in:
(1) a recognized career pathway program that leads to stackable credentials;
(2) a training program lasting 12 weeks or fewer; or
(3) the final year of a multiyear postsecondary education or training program.
Subd. 3.Satisfactory progress required.
In order for a postsecondary education or training program to be an approved activity in a participant’s employment plan, the participant must maintain satisfactory progress in the program. “Satisfactory progress” in an education or training program means (1) the participant remains in good standing while the participant is enrolled in the program, as defined by the education or training institution, or (2) the participant makes satisfactory progress as the term is defined in the participant’s employment plan.
Subd. 4.
[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 9 art 10 s 67]
Subd. 5.Requirements after postsecondary education or training.
Upon completion of an approved education or training program, a participant who does not meet the participation requirements in section 256J.55, subdivision 1, through unsubsidized employment must participate in job search. If, after three months of job search, the participant does not find a full-time job consistent with the employment goal, the participant must accept any offer of full-time suitable employment, or meet with the job counselor to revise the employment plan to include additional work activities necessary to meet hourly requirements.